Seven injured as BCL clashes with police

At least seven people, including five policemen, were injured in a clash between the police and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student associate of the ruling Awami League, on the Chittagong University campus on Thursday. Following the clash, the university authorities suspended the day’s final year examination of communication and journalism department, according to CU assistant proctor Niaz Morshed Ripan. The clash ensued as a BCL faction pressed the university authorities to allow a suspended student, a BCL activist, to take the final year examinations of communication and journalism department. On October 18, 2016, the CU authorities suspended six BCL activists, including Md Abdullah Al Kaiser of that department, for different terms for hacking a member of a rival group on the campus. According to campus sources, Abdullah went to appear for the examination in the morning but was denied permission by teachers. Then Abdullah, along with other BCL activists, tried to forcefully sit for the exam. On information, the police rushed in and a clash ensued as the law enforcers attempted to disperse the BCL men. Chase and counter-chase took place while BCL activists pelted brickbats, prompting the police to charge batons. Later, the BCL men took position in front of the main entrance around noon and locked the entrance. The police chased them again and fired teargas shells. Panic gripped the teachers and students on the campus and surrounding areas. All the injured received primary treatment at the university medical centre. The BCL central body in the afternoon suspended two of its CU unit leaders for their involvement in the clash.Delowar Hossain Shahajada, office secretary of BCL central committee, told New Age that they had suspended CU unit’s assistant secretary Abdullah Al Kaiser, and deputy office secretary Mizanur Rahman.Mizanur, however, denied any knowledge of the clash. ‘I was not involved in the incident,’ he claimed.